Speaking to the press at a Republican confab in Mackinac Island, Michigan, the freshman senator from Kentucky conceded that he doubts the House resolution passed Friday, which would defund the Affordable Care Act, could emerge from a Senate debate unscathed and unamended. One of the most vocal opponents of Obamacare, Paul does hold out hope that threatening to not pay for the legislative program could result in a finished product that's "less bad."

"In the end the sausage factory in Washington will make the sausage," Paul told the Detroit News.

Paul, whose potential as presidential contender in 2016 has been a subject of much speculation, admitted that absent a sudden and total alignment behind an approach to tackling the health care law, his caucus' "disunity" means Republicans will most likely fall short of canceling, or even delaying, the law from going into effect.

"Leverage doesn't work unless people believe you'll actually do something," Paul said. "The fact that Democrats don't believe we'll do anything, in the end they'll get what they want and a bill will be cobbled together."

soundoff(273 Responses)

Oh Rand, you have so many different faces you're going to feed the wrong mouth and starve.

September 21, 2013 09:53 pm at 9:53 pm |

slason

My wife has been living with pain for over a year because insurance companies will not cover her preexisting condition. The ACA may not be perfect but it will greatly reduce costs and expand coverage while saving the lives of over 40,000 people a year. The Republican Party is greatly out of touch with reality and much of the American public is just as out of touch.

September 21, 2013 09:55 pm at 9:55 pm |

Greg

They are fighting a losing battle. Republicans want to discuss one issue when this nation faces many. Unemployment, hunger, healthcare cost, violence, guns, obesity, disease deficits, interest rates, fuel cost. Yet because we are a year away from midterms all they have is Obamacare. That's all they've done for the past three years. They have no plan! Being against is not an economic policy. Whatever he wants to do we want the opposite is not foreign policy. They have no plan. Abortion, gun rights and Pretending to be religious and constitutionalists. Yet, no economic policy. Republicans aren't a party anymore. Nothing but Simon Says but more like Koch's Says.

September 21, 2013 09:56 pm at 9:56 pm |

Jeebusss

Lol. He acts as if this is some big revelation or admittance. Since when is pointing out something that everyone with a brain knew a long time ago.

September 21, 2013 09:57 pm at 9:57 pm |

Alina77

"Paul does hold out hope that threatening to not pay for the legislative program could result in a finished product that's "less bad."... So lets see, for Paul if Health care won't be "somehow" founded means it will be better in the end.. If this makes sense then please people vote for more idio..ts like Paul because you deserve it.

September 21, 2013 09:58 pm at 9:58 pm |

jr1515

How Presidential. A republican candadate who REFUSES to stoop how low ???

September 21, 2013 09:59 pm at 9:59 pm |

Marc Florida

I guess Rand is starting to prepare for another conservative trouncing. Honestly, have the Republicans offerred anything other that their against anything that Obama is for. Now there is real responsible R governing for you!

September 21, 2013 09:59 pm at 9:59 pm |

Hope

Rand Paul: Can you ask Mr John Dingell of Michigan to reintroduce the Murray Wagner Dingell bill?

The Wagner-Murray-Dingell Bill was a 1945 proposal to institute a national medical and hospitalization program. Robert F. Wagner, Reid F. Murray, and John D. Dingell, Sr. introduced it to the 79th United States Congress on May 24, 1945.

September 21, 2013 10:00 pm at 10:00 pm |

Natural Mystic

When I managed restaurants and retail stores in the 80's corporations the only full time employees were managers. We made sure that line employees worked less than 30 hours weekly. Corporations are now using Obama Care as an excuse to reduce the number of full time employees, and not look greedy.

Even the Village-Id10t Rand, says it will stay in place. Stop wasting time, and move on.

September 21, 2013 10:06 pm at 10:06 pm |

vdetter

I think the GOP needs to be more concerned for the 47%. Alll the want to do is take from the groups that can least afford it.
I will vote against them when I get the chance!

September 21, 2013 10:10 pm at 10:10 pm |

Lew Moore

Senator Paul,

The reason universal health insurance is likely to survive is that, despite four years of trying, neither you nor anyone else has found any more satisfactory answer for the tens of millions of us who take any work we can, all week long, and can't make enough money to afford to treat the damage our work does to us.

Your plan in particular deserves mention. It essentially amounts to dumping our health care on the States, refusing to pay for it, and watching the States either also refuse or go bankrupt.

We're being poisoned and worn down. We're on a one-way trip to arthritis, blood clots, and heart attacks. We pay a fair greater proportion of our wealth each year in taxes than you would ever tolerate for yourself, ...

... and we still keep hearing those elected to represent us claim that the only way anyone's ever implemented to get the rest of us health security (Obamacare) is a "political sausage cooked up in Washington". What DO we have to do to convince you to either represent those of us who contribute the bulk of the blood shed in every war this country's ever fought, or at least get out of the way of those who at least are trying to?

Respectfully yours,
An American

September 21, 2013 10:12 pm at 10:12 pm |

descygne

Do whats best for the people! Give it chance. I do believe this healthcare plan will be great for our county.

September 21, 2013 10:13 pm at 10:13 pm |

KellyinBoston

Sen. Paul. Stop being an idiot and suggest something better. For my money, the ACA makes sense. If you (or your party) have something better, why haven't we heard about years ago?

September 21, 2013 10:13 pm at 10:13 pm |

Lee

One of the most sane things I have heard from Rand Paul. Appears to be a very pragmatic assessment. If only he did this consistently.....

September 21, 2013 10:14 pm at 10:14 pm |

PtBarnumBoy

If hubris was a virtue this guy would be the pope.

September 21, 2013 10:15 pm at 10:15 pm |

MJ

If Obamacare survives, I truly feel sorry for the poor. Their jobs will get eliminated as companies slash costs to comply with Obamacare. Part time jobs will replace full time. etc. Truly a disaster.

September 21, 2013 10:16 pm at 10:16 pm |

darknesscrown

Nice to see at least ONE Tea Party member succumb to reality. Can you lunatics please avert a shutdown now? People need to work.